Tories try to seize the initiative again after setbacks

BORIS Johnson has unveiled dozens of new laws in the Queen’s Speech in a bid to relaunch his beleaguered premiership.

The speech, which marked the state opening of Parliament, features 38 pieces of legislation and is designed to reset the Government and convince Tory MPs that the Prime Minister is on the right track.

After a local elections bloodbath, in which the Tories lost control of symbolic councils in the South and more than 400 seats across the country, Mr Johnson will be hoping for a bounce in the polls after outlining a series of measures on levelling up and the cost of living crisis.

Here are the key pieces of legislation to emerge from the speech:

Levelling Up

A cornerstone of Boris Johnson’s premiership, the mission to level up has finally made it to the statute book.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill unveiled yesterday formalises many of the things outlined in Michael Gove’s 300-page White Paper published earlier this year.

The Government has said this Bill will “drive local growth, empower local leaders to regenerate their areas, and ensure everyone can share in the United Kingdom’s success.”

The Bill will see further devolution and the creation of more mayors across the country. Local authorities will be given powers to bring empty premises back into use to improve high streets and residents will have “more of a say over changing street names and ensuring everyone can continue to benefit from al fresco dining”.

The Bill sets out that there will be a legal requirement on the Government to “produce an annual report updating the country” on the delivery of the levelling up mission.

Cost of living

THE cost of living crisis looms large over the speech.

But it was light on detail and only goes so far as to note the £22bn in support already provided to households rather than spell out any new measures.

There have been hints, however, that Mr Johnson is considering slashing VAT, bringing forward the planned income tax cut by a year and making this autumn’s £200 energy loan a grant to help those struggling.

The speech leaves the door open for such future measures, it states: “The Government will not hesitate to take further steps to support households if needed.”

But this is caveated, likely at the behest of the Treasury, with such comments as: “The fiscal outlook remains uncertain. Spending on public debt interest repayments has risen sharply in recent months, to reach record levels in each of the last three months. This is why we must continue with our work to repair the public finances and return them to a sustainable path.”

Transport

GRANT Shapps’ pet project, Great British Railways, finally gets legislative backing.

The Transport Bill will give Mr

Shapps powers to take control of railway network functions and centralise them under one body.

The Transport Secretary has said this will “simplify the railways to ensure a better and more reliable service for passengers”.

The HS2 line from Crewe to Manchester is also added to the statute book in the High Speed Rail (Crewe Manchester) Bill.

The Bill also provides critical infrastructure to allow the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Housing

THE speech reaffirms the Government’s commitment to “helping more people to own the home of their dreams” and commits the Government to “levelling up homeownership”.

The speech states: “We have set ambitious housing missions for renters to have a secure path to ownership and reduce the number of nondecent rented homes.”

Under the Renters Reform Bill socalled ‘no fault’ section 21 evictions will be abolished.

Education

THE Schools Bill promises to “help every child fulfil their potential wherever they live, raising standards and improving the quality of schools and higher education.”

The Bill sets out that the regulatory framework for academy trusts will be strengthened and new intervention powers will be introduced.

Schools, under the new law, will be required to establish “children not in school registers” to enable “better, more targeted, and more consistent multi-agency support.”

Crime

TO ensure the British public can “go about their lives without disruption from guerrilla protest”, as seen by Insulate Britain and Extinction Rebellion, there will be new criminal offences.

There will also be the creation of a new criminal offence of interfering with key national infrastructure, such as airports, railways and printing presses – carrying a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

The speech also outlines how social media companies will have a “duty of care” to users. The Online Safety Bill will mean firms like Facebook will be “responsible for protecting users and tackling illegal content.

After much delay, the speech also puts ‘Martyn’s Law’ on the statute book. Called for in the wake of the Manchester Arena terror attack, the Draft Protect Duty Bill establishes a new requirements framework which “requires those in control of certain public locations and venues to consider the threat from terrorism and implement appropriate and proportionate mitigation measures.”